Wouter
Dam (The
Netherlands- 1957) After an absence of almost four years, Wouter Dam
is returning to Puls bringing with him a
series of new sculptures named Cornucopia’s. This latest work has
evolved from the desire to bring the sculpture “upwards”,
creating an elevated form which allows the viewer to look ‘through’
rather than ‘at’ the work.
Included
in the show are his radiant coloured wall hangings, each placed
against a contrasting background to frame the piece and to make it
‘pop’.
While sizeable these curvy works appear light and airy as if they
could be ruffled or blown away by wind.
In
Dam’s work all
emphasis is on form. His
signature assemblage of different thrown pieces and added slabs has
over the years become more complex. Despite appearances, one can
still trace back the making process to the potter’s wheel. With
this new work he
has almost separated
each element of the traditional vessel to reassemble as a sculpture.
Dam
graduated from The Gerrit Rietveld Academy in Amsterdam in 1980. It
was there where he began this exploration of shape and volume, which
continues to fascinate him today.
Dam’s
work is exhibited internationally and is included in numerous
collections including the Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam, the Musée
des Arts Décoratifs in Paris, the Victoria and Albert Museum in
London and the Detroit Institute of Art.
Jongjin Park (South Korea -1982) investigates the remarkable ability of ceramics to deceive the eye. By experimenting with layering paper and porcelain slip, he has created giant millefeuilles which are at once delicate, strong and have an almost wood-like quality. In using fragile paper and ‘hard’ porcelain slip, he’s is able to manipulate your senses and makes you wonder what is real?
Park already had a strong foundational knowledge of ceramic properties and techniques, when he decided to integrate the use of paper into his ceramic work. He was looking for ways to make ceramic imitate other materials. The sculptural forms he creates are full of vulnerability and duplicity, and hover between the spontaneous and the deliberate. The colours he uses add another dimension of surprise to the texture: soft pastels, shady greys and whites and cobalt blues make for a delicious feast as if these pieces are edible after all.
Born in Korea Park received his MA in Ceramics at Cardiff Metropolitan University, and is currently pursuing a PhD in Ceramics at Kookmin University, Seoul. His exhibitions include the Santorini Biennale of Arts, Santorini, Greece, R.E.D, Arton gallery, Singapore, Ceramic Museum, Korea and the 7th Cheongju International Craft Competition in 2011 for which he was awarded the Gold Prize.
Puls Contemporary Ceramics
Address
Edelmknaapstraat 19
1050 Brussel
Opening hours
Wednesday up until Saturday 13h - 18h
